Question

Ptolemy’s ‘geocentric’ theory was proved to be wrong by.
A. Galileo
B. Newton
C. Francis Bacon
D. Copernicus

Answer 1

Hint: In astronomy, the geocentric model is a superseded definition of the Universe with the Earth at its core. The Sun, the Moon, the asteroids, and the planets all orbited Earth under the geocentric concept. The geocentric paradigm was the prevalent definition of the universe of many ancient cultures, such as Aristotle in Classical Greece and Ptolemy in Roman Egypt.

Complete answer:
Two findings backed the theory that Earth was at the center of the Universe:
First, from somewhere on Earth, the Sun appears to spin around Earth once a day. Although the Moon and the planets have their own orbits, they also seem to revolve around the Earth only once a day. The stars seemed to be centered on the celestial sphere, revolving once a day along the axis of the Earth's geographic poles.
Second, Earth appears to be unmoving from the point of view of the Earth-bound observer; it feels solid, stable, and inert.
The geocentric model existed for a long time. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) had a different model before the mid-18th century. The sun has been put at the center of the universe with his heliocentric theory. It was based on observations on the telescope – work developed by Galileo Galilei, the Italian astronomer (1564-1642).
So, the correct answer is option D.

Note: Claudius Ptolemy was a mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, geographer and astrologer who authored a number of scientific treatises, three of which were of interest to later Byzantine, Islamic and Western European sciences.